The Death of the Author 2.0: The Aesthetic Perspective on Robots Playing Instruments

In the face of the ongoing advancement of musical robotics and the integration of artificial intelligence into artistic practices, this essay undertakes an inquiry into the possibility of art existing in the absence of a sentient, emotionally engaged, creative subject. The primary focus is on the reception of non-human artistic production, the significance of embodiment in musical expression, and the imperative to redefine the notion of creativity. The proposed approach advocates the recognition of robotic art as an experimental domain within relational aesthetics, accompanied by a complete departure from comparisons between robotic and human performance. In the context of robotic art, meaning is not the product of authorial intent but rather emerges through the interaction between the audience, the technological agent, and the surrounding cultural context, thereby decentralizing the notion of authorship. Despite its detachment from traditional aesthetic experience, robotic art may nonetheless possess aesthetic value and social resonance. Consequently, the essay argues for the inclusion of transformation and innovation as critical categories within aesthetic discourse, essential to a contemporary understanding of technological creativity. The analysis adopts an interdisciplinary perspective, drawing on philosophy of art, music theory, and posthumanist thought.